Plant Propagation Protocol for Cheilanthes feei ESRM 412 – Native Plant Production

Protocol URL: https://courses.washington.edu/esrm412/protocols/CHFE.pdf

TAXONOMY Plant Family Scientific Name Pteridaceae Common Name Fern Family Scientific Name Species Scientific Name Cheilanthes feei T. Moore (10) Varieties None Sub-species None Cultivar None Common Synonym(s) None Common Name(s) Slender lipfern (10/4) Fee's Lip Fern (11) Species Code (as per USDA Plants Database CHFE

Image 1 (above left): Distribution of C. feei in North America – USDA Image 2 (above right): Distribution of C. feei in Washington State – USDA

GENERAL INFORMATION

This species is native to North America. (4) In the United States, it is present in Geographical most states West of Illinois, as well as Kentucky and Virginia and in Canada is Range present in British Columbia and Alberta. (10)

Very Hardy: Zones 4 - 6. (12) Grows under high-light in moist-dry to dry, basic, Ecological well-drained garden soil with sand, and grows in limestone cliffs. (4) This species Distribution does not tolerate moist conditions. (9) Species prefers drier screes and rocky terrain that offer arid conditions. (7)

Climate and In Washington State it can be found at elevations from 260-800 m in arid Elevation Range climates. (11) Local Habitat and Rare in the Pacific Northwest. (6) In Washington State, this species can be found Abundance in Asotin and Whitman County. (10) Plant strategy type / Successional Mid to Late Successional Stage

Life form: Forb/Herb. (10) A small fern with compact to short-creeping rhizomes and small rosette clusters of blue-green fronds, with distinctly finely divided blades. (4) Fronds are bipinnate and covered with long, whitish hairs, especially Plant on the underside. (12) Spores can be up to 92 um, and have reduced numbers, Characteristics suggesting they are apogamous. (5) Lacy fronds arise from a compact rhizome, and can grow to 6" in length. (7) Fronds are lightly tufted, with nearly round pinnule lobes and the pinnules of the lower pinnae are fully cut to the midrib. (1)

Image 3 (left): C. feei - http://newmexicoflores.com/Cheilanthes_feei2.jpg

Image 4: C. feei underside - http://wisflora.herbarium.wisc.edu/spec_images/bigphoto/CHEFEE_NOLL.jpg

PROPAGATION DETAILS Propagation Goal: Plants and Spores In general, for the genus Cheilanthes, propagation is easy from spores, and Propagation Method moderately difficult by division. (2/9) Product Type: For C. feei and Cheilanthes lanosa: Shallow containers: saucers, petri dish Stock Type For C. feei and Cheilanthes lanosa: Shallow containers: saucers, petri dish Time to Grow Adults grow slowly, especially when competing with other species. (3) Target Specifications 2-4 inches in height, and 4 inches in width. (2) Spores can be collected without permanent damage to the plant, and should Propagule Collection be harvested in November and December by clipping a frond bearing spores. Instructions (3) Propagule Processing/Propagule Unknown Characteristics

Pre-Planting Store in a glass container at 4° C in the dark with some ventilation so the Propagule Treatments spores dry. After a few months they are ready for harvest. (3)

Growing Area Preparation / Annual Using a shallow container such as a Petri dish bottom, saucer, etc., pack Practices for clean fine sand. (3) Perennial Crops

Saturate the spore material with a liquid growth medium or fertilizer, containing high calcium and low in nitrogen. Next, gently squirt the spore material in a spiral pattern over the sand, and moisten the sand by squirting Establishment Phase growth medium around the outer edge of the sand. Cover the cultures with Details aluminum foil and incubate at 25-30° C for 1-1.5 weeks. Next, remove the cover and place the cultures near indirect light, covered with glass, but allowing airflow. (3)

Spores will germinate in the dark in 10 days if stored for 2-3 months, but if Length of stored longer may need up to 1.5 weeks in the dark, followed by 1.5 weeks in Establishment Phase heavy shade, and then 1.5 weeks in continuous indirect white light. (3)

The plants will dry very slowly and watering is crucial. The sand must remain Active Growth Phase moist but feel dry to the touch so it will not clump. (3) Length of Active 4-6 weeks (3) Growth Phase Hardening Phase Unknown Length of Hardening Unknown Phase

Harvesting, Storage When the fronds are dried, remove from storage and crush them with a and Shipping mortar and pestle. Follow by filtering out stems and hairs. (3) Spores can be stored for a few months. 2-3 months is ideal, anything more Length of Storage will require longer germination time. (3) Guidelines for Outplanting / Soil must be well-drained and plant should we water indirectly, around the Performance on edges of the plant. Watering directly can damage or kill the plant. (3) Typical Sites Nearly 75% of apogamous ferns contain 3 sets of chromosomes in their cells Other Comments instead of the normal two, this species is triploid, containing 3 sets of chromosomes. (8)

INFORMATION SOURCES

1. Cobb, Boughton, Elizabeth Farnsworth, and Cheryl Lowe. A Field Guide to Ferns and Their Related Families: Northeastern and Central North America. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2005. Print. 2. Cullina, William. Native Ferns, Mosses, & Grasses. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. 2008. Print. 3. Diamond, Hope, and Lucinda Swatzell. “American Fern Society.” American Fern Society. The American Fern Society, 2003. Web. 22 May 2016. Available at: http://amerfernsoc.org/pages/swatzell/cultivation_of_cheilanthes_speci.htm 4. Hoshizaki, Barbara Joe., and Robbin Craig Moran. Fern Grower's Manual. Portland, Or.: Timber, 2001. Print. 5. Jermy, A. C., J. A. Crabbe, and Barry A. Thomas. The Phylogeny and Classification of the Ferns. London: Published for the Linnean Society of London by Academic, 1973. Print. References 6. Kruckeberg, Arthur R. Gardening with Native Plants of the Pacific Northwest: An Illustrated Guide. Seattle: U of Washington, 1982. Print. 7. MacHugh, Andrew. The Cultivation of Ferns. London: Batsford, 1992. Print. 8. Moran, Robbin Craig. A Natural History of Ferns. Portland: Timber, 2004. Print. 9. Olsen, Sue. Owner of Foliage Gardens and Author, email communication, 22 MAY 2016. 10. “Plants Profile for Cheilanthes Feei (slender lipfern).” Plants Profile for Cheilanthes Feei (slender lipfern). United States Department of Agriculture, n.d. Web 18 May 2016. Available at: http://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=CHFE 11. Program, Washington Natural Heritage. Cheilanthes Feei. Wash: http://www1.dnr.wa.gov/nhp/refdesk/fguide/pdf/chfe.pdf 12. Rickard, Martin. The Plantfinder’s Guide to Garden Ferns. Newton Abbot, Devon: David & Charles. Print. Foster, F. Gordon. Ferns to Know and Grow. Portland, Or.: Timber, 1984. Print. Foster, F. Gordon. The Gardener’s Fern Book; a Guide for the Gardener, a Reference for the Nature-lover. Princeton, NJ: Van Nostrand, 1964. Print. Frankel, Edward, and Edgar M. Paulton. Ferns, a Natural History. Brattleboro, VT: S. Greene, 1989. Print. Grounds, Roger. Ferns. London: Pelham, 1974. Print. Jones, David L. Encyclopedia of Ferns: An Introduction to Ferns, Their Structure, Other Biology, Economic Importance, Cultivation, and Propagation. Melbourne: Lothian Pub., Sources 1987. Print. Consulted MacKinnon, A., Jim Pojar, and Paul B. Alaback. Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast: Washington, Oregon, British Columbia & Alaska. Vancouver: Lone Pine Pub., 2004. Print. Pettinger, April. Native Plants in the Coastal Garden: A Guide for Gardeners in British Columbia and the Pacific Northwest. Vancouver: Whitecap, 1996. Print. Rose, Robin, Caryn E. C. Chachulski, and Diane L. Haase. Propagation of Pacific Northwest Native Plants. Corvallis: Oregon State UP, 1998. Print.

Protocol Spencer Murray Author Date Protocol 6/6/2016 Created or Updated